Apple competes with Netflix over Jennifer Aniston drama series

Apple will have to splash the cash to secure rights to new drama series. Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

Apple is reportedly battling with Netflix over the rights to a new original drama series starring Jennifer Aniston and Reese Witherspoon.

The show is based around the workings of a morning television TV chat show, possibly (hopefully!) suggesting something similar to Aaron Sorkin’s The Newsroom or Sports Night.

The same report claims that Apple is also searching for office space at Hollywood’s iconic Culver Studios in Hollywood, which has been the site of movie productions dating back to the 1920s. This space would be home to Jamie Ehrlicht and Zack Van Amburg, two former Sony execs who joined Apple earlier this year to work on its original programming.

Apple’s original TV ambitions

Apple is reportedly planning to spend a $1 billion “war chest” on acquiring or producing original content over the next year. For this, Apple wants to produce 10 high budget original dramas for Apple Music.

While that amount may sound impressive, however, Netflix has an estimated $7 billion to spend on rights during the same period. Apple previously competed with Netflix over a production contract with comedian Chris Rock, which Netflix won.